Cal High’s hockey club championship over Dublin High on Feb. 28 stirred excitement across campus.

And for good reason.

When senior Cole Merrick fired a rocket shot into the goal for a 5-4 win in the game’s closing seconds, Cal finished the season undefeated with an 11-0-1 overall record and the top ranking in the California Pure High School League.

The team finished with an all-time league record scoring of 78+ goals.

The nail-biting championship game drew quite the student crowd. For what some consider an under-appreciated sport at Cal it was a nice change, and may have contributed to the exciting turn of events.

“Last year we had about four people from our school come,” said junior Alex Lyigynen. “Then this year we walked out and there were like 300 people.”

Despite the crowd turnout coming as a shock to the team, many members appreciated the support of Cal’s rambunctious crowd.

“I feel like people didn’t really know about the team until the championship game,” said senior goalkeeper Willie Chan.

Although the Grizzlies were heavily favored, having beaten the Gaels 9-2 earlier in the season, the game was not looking to go their way in the first two periods. Down by four goals, the Grizzlies hopes of that championship trophy were dwindling.

But with goals by junior Mason Friedman, sophomore Tyler Dawson and Tiegan Bagnall, and freshman Mike Carranza, not to mention excellent goal tending by Chan, the Grizzlies tied the game 4-4 with only 55 seconds in the final period before Merrick’s game-winning shot.

Immediate hype from the Cal student fans followed the championship game. Many who were unfamiliar with the Cal hockey team are already looking forward to next season.

“I really liked the game. Hockey is such an action packed sport… I would love to go watch the hockey team again,” said junior, Emily Olague,”I can’t wait for next year!”

The club hockey season starts in October and goes well into February. Despite the loss of three impact player, the Grizzlies are predicted to do well next year and will most likely be competing for the championship again.

Merrick was a top scorer and is considered MVP by the majority of his teammates, but he is graduating.  Chan, who is also graduating, had some incredible games in goal throughout the season that were essential to Cal’s championship run.

Senior Andreas Dreifuerst, another outstanding player, will also be graduating this year.

“I am very optimistic about season,” said head coach Todd Lyijynen,”[although] we are losing [three seniors], there are several good players who will be freshmen next year.”

Many members of the team, including Chan, predict he and the other graduates will continue playing hockey once they leave high school, either recreationally or with a college club team.

The team currently does not practice together because most members get plenty of time on the ice with their other area club teams.

The California Pure High School League, which is part of the Tri Valley Minor Hockey Club, was started four years ago and began with only four teams, including Cal.

Since the league was founded, four new teams have been added and more teams are expected to join next year. The league now features eight teams, including Monte Vista, San Ramon, Dougherty Valley, Amador Valley, Dublin, Foothill and De La Salle.

Most members of the team this year have been competing together since it started and have been playing hockey since they were age five or six years old

Winning the league championship is a major achievement individually and for the school.